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I'm currently in India and scheduled to take the NY Bar Exam. The American Embassy is closed, and its unclear if I'll make it back in time given that I need a visa to reenter. I also have to quarantine for 14 days in a NY hotel. Sure that countless LLMs face the same problem.
If you're wondering why the NY bar, it is internationally recognized among foreign lawyers. LLMs especially can only take NY & Cal (and 3 other states). So the NY Bar qualification is vv important for law graduates after spending $$$ in law school tuition.
The currently system not only precludes many foreign lawyers who have returned home for COVID-19 to sit the bar, but impose prohibitive financial burdens (in addition to bar prep + enrollment costs) in the form of air tickets + 14 days in a hotel.
Plus there's obviously major health risks of getting on planes, and taking an exam in a packed convention center. Many students do not have extensive health insurance coverage post graduation. They also do not have the social infrastructure to take care of them if they fall sick.
That's why it is SO important for NY to consider granting #diplomaprivilege and if that is only extended to students of in-state law schools, then to administer a truncated bar exam online.
